Lindsay or Lindsey is an English surname, originally derived from the territory of Lindsey in Lincolnshire, from the Old English toponym Lindesege "Lindum Isle", i.e. "marshlands of Lincoln".
In the late 19th century, the surname gave rise to the given names Lindsay and Lindsey in the United States, at first as a masculine given name, and since the mid-20th century, increasingly as a feminine given name. Its popularity as a girls' name is due to actress Lindsay Wagner (born 1949 as Lindsay Jean Wagner), who became famous in 1976 as The Bionic Woman. Lindsey was the 570th most popular name for girls born in the United States in 2014, while Lindsay ranked 653rd. Both spellings ranked among the top 100 names for girls from 1980 through 1993, with Lindsey peaking at #35 in 1983 and 1984 and Lindsay peaking at #36 in the same years.
The surname is ultimately connected to the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Lindsey.
The surname of Lindsay continued to be borne by the Earls of Balcarres and Earls of Crawford, down to the current holder of the title, Robert Lindsay, 29th Earl of Crawford (b. 1927), while the Earls of Lindsay have used the additional surname of Lindesay since its adoption by Reginald Lindesay-Bethune, 12th Earl of Lindsay in 1919.
The names of John de Lindsay (d. 1335), Ingram Lindsay (15th century) David Lyndsay (c. 1490–c. 1555) and Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie (1532–1580) are early examples of the name being used as "surname" by members of lower nobility in Scotland. Lindsay was used in the United Kingdom by younger sons of the Lindsay clan chiefs, acquiring the status of common surname in the course of the 19th century:
Alec Lindsay (born 1948), English international footballer (Liverpool FC)
David Lyndsay (poet), also spelled Lindsay, renaissance poet in the court of James V of Scotland
Duncan Morton Lindsay, Scottish football player (1902-1972)
Sir Harry Lindsay (1881-1963), British civil servant and administrator
James Lindsay (Conservative politician) (1906–1997)
James Alexander Lindsay (1815–1874), British Conservative Member of Parliament for Wigan, second son of James Lindsay, 24th Earl of Crawford
Joseph Lindsay (1858–1933), Scottish international footballer
Sir Martin Lindsay, 1st Baronet, British politician and explorer (1905–1981)
Maurice Lindsay (1918–2009), Scottish broadcaster, writer and poet
Maurice Lindsay (rugby league), rugby league administrator (Wigan)
Patrick Lindsay (politician), Second Minister for the Gaeltacht (1914– 1993)
Robert Lindsay (disambiguation)
Ronald Lindsay (1877–1945), Former UK Ambassador to the United States, fifth son of James Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford
Sandie Lindsay, 1st Baron Lindsay of Birker (1879–1952), Master of Balliol College, Oxford, son of Thomas Martin Lindsay
Reverend Thomas Martin Lindsay (1843–1914)
Ireland
The surname Lindsay is also found in Northern Ireland. Irish people called Lindsay are either descended from members of the Scottish clan Lindsay who migrated to Ireland, or alternatively of the Gaelic O'Loinsigh sept, who sometimes anglicized their name as Lindsay, even though more common anglicizations were Lynch or Linchey. In addition, the MacClintock (MacIlliuntaig) family anglicized their name as Lindsay in the 17th century.
Americas and Oceania
At the same time, Scottish emigrants to America or Australia tended to adopt their clan's name as surname; as a Scottish American surname, Lindsay is introduced by the late 18th century, with the immigration of one Anthony Lindsay from Scotland.
Alvin Francis Lindsay (1882–1957), American politician, Missouri state representative
Arthur Fydell Lindsay (1816–1895), South Australian surveyor and politician
Arto Lindsay (born 1953), American musician
Chike Lindsay (born 1983), American kickboxer
Sir Daryl Lindsay (1889–1976), Australian, brother of Norman Lindsay
David Lindsay (explorer) (1856–1922) leader of 1891 Elder expedition to Central Australia
Germaine Lindsay (1985–2005), Jamaican-born British Islamist terrorist
Jeff Lindsay (writer) (born 1952), American fiction writer
John Lindsay (1921–2000), American politician
Sir Lionel Lindsay (1874–1961), Australian artist, brother of Norman Lindsay
Mark Lindsay (born 1942), American pop singer
Norman Lindsay (1879–1969), Australian artist, of famous Lindsay family
Percy Lindsay (1870–1952), Australian artist, brother of Norman Lindsay
Reg Lindsay (1929–2008), Australian country and western singer
Ruby Lindsay (1885–1919), Australian artist, sister of Norman Lindsay
Ryan Lindsay (born 1976), Canadian former professional ice hockey player
Ted Lindsay (born 1925), American former professional ice hockey player
Vachel Lindsay (1879–1931), American poet
The boy's given name Lindsay appears to arise from the Scottish surname in the early 20th century in North America and Australia / New Zealand, also given to girls by the mid-20th century, and rising to popularity in the 1970s.
Adrian Lindsey (1895–1980), American athlete and coach
Ben Lindsey (basketball), American collegiate basketball coach
Ben Lindsey (jurist) (1869–1943), American judge and social reformer
Brandon Lindsey, American football player
Charles H. Lindsey, British computer scientist
Isaac Coleman Lindsey (1892–1968), Louisiana politician
David L. Lindsey, novelist
Geoff Lindsey, writer
George Lindsey, American actor
Hal Lindsey, American evangelist and Christian writer
Hillary Lindsey, country music songwriter
Jim Lindsey, University of Arkansas trustee
Johanna Lindsey, novelist
Korey Lindsey, American football player
Lawrence B. Lindsey, economist
Martin Lindsey, English vice-chancellor
Melvin Lindsey, broadcaster
Steven W. Lindsey, astronaut
Theophilus Lindsey, theologian, founder of Unitarianism in England
Lindsay Rogers (1891-1970), Burgess Professor of Public Law, Columbia University (1920–1959); Director, Social Science Research Council (1934–36)
Lindsay Crosby (1938-1989); American actor and singer
Lindsay Weir (1908–2003), New Zealand cricketer
Lindsay Brown (1911–1987), American baseball player
Lindsay Hassett (1913–1993), Australian Test cricketer
Lindsay Tuckett (born 1919), South African cricketer
Lindsay Anderson (1923–1994), British film director
Lindsay Kline (born 1934), Australian Test cricketer
Lindsay Gaze (born 1936), Australian basketball player and coach
Lindsay Hoyle (born 1957), Labour Member of Parliament for Chorley (England)
Lindsay Dawson (born 1959), American artist
Lindsay Hamilton (born 1962), Scottish footballer
Lindsay Knapp (born 1970), Football player
Lindsay Kemp (born 1938), British dancer, actor, teacher, mime artist and choreographer
Lindsay Scott (born 1960), American football player
Lindsay Tait (born 1982), New Zealand basketball player
Lindsay G. Merrithew (born 1964), Canadian entrepreneur, executive producer, producer, and actor.
Lindsay Wagner, American actress (b. 1949)
Lindsay Cooper, English musician and political activist (1951–2013)
Lindsay Armstrong, South-African born Australian writer (b. before 1970)
1970s
Lindsay Davenport, American tennis player (b. 1976)
Lindsay Price, American actress and singer (b. 1976)
Lindsay Lee-Waters, American tennis player (b. 1977)
Lindsay Sloane, American actress (b. 1977)
Lindsay Hartley, American actress (b. 1978)
1980s
Lindsay Taylor, former WNBA player (b. 1981)
Lindsay Whalen, American basketball player (b. 1982)
Lindsay Tarpley, American soccer player (b. 1983)
Lindsay Ellingson, American fashion model (b. 1984)
Lindsay Felton, American actress (b. 1984)
Lindsay Hawker, British murder victim (1984-2007)
Lindsay Lohan, American actress and singer (b. 1986)
Lindsay Pagano, American singer (b. 1986)
Lyndsy Fonseca, American actress (b. 1987)
1990s
Lindsay Arnold, ballroom dancer, former contestant on So You Think You Can Dance and current contestant from Dancing with the Stars (b. 1994)
Lindsay Monroe, a character on CSI: NY
Lindsay Rappaport, a character on One Life to Live
Lindsay Weir, a character on Freaks and Geeks, played by Linda Cardellini
Lindsay Bluth Fünke, a character on Arrested Development, played by Portia de Rossi
Lindsay, a character on Total Drama Island
Lindsay Dole, an attorney on The Practice, played by Kelli Williams
Lyndsay, a character in the Wii and DS games MySims Kingdom, MySims Agents and MySims SkyHeroes
Lindsay, a character on The New Adventures of Old Christine, played by Alex Kapp Horner
Lindsay Boxer, a character on Women's Murder Club, played by Angie Harmon
Lindsay Marriott, a character in Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler
Lindsay in Lucky Number Slevin played by Lucy Liu
Lindsay Willows, a character appears in CSI Las Vegas as Catherine Willows'es daughter
Lindsey Berg, American volleyball player
Lindsey Cardinale, American singer and American Idol contestant (born 1985)
Lindsey Davis, novelist
Lindsey Evans, American fashion model and beauty queen (born 1989)
Lindsey German, politician
Lindsey Haun, American actress and singer (born 1984)
Lindsey Hilsum, news reporter
Spessard Lindsey Holland, politician
Lindsey Jacobellis (born 1985), American snowboarder
Lindsey McKeon, American actress (born 1982)
Lindsey Shaw, American actress (born 1989)
Lindsey Stirling, American violinist (born 1986)
Jay Lindsey Tibbs, baseball player
Lindsey Vonn, alpine skier
Lindsey Vuolo, photographer's model
Lindsey Ann Way, Musician and bassist for Mindless Self Indulgence (born 1976)
Lindsey Witten (born 1988), American football player
Lindsey Wixson American fashion model (born 1994)
Lindsey Wright, American professional golfer (born 1979)
Lindsey Van, American ski jumper (born 1984)
Lindsey Buckingham (born 1949), American guitarist, singer, composer, and producer, member of Fleetwood Mac
Lindsey Durlacher (1974–2011), US Greco-Roman wrestler
Lindsey Graham (born 1955), American politician and US Senator from South Carolina since 2003
Lindsey Hugh Holliman, politician
Lindsey Hughes, historian
Lindsey Hunter (born 1970), American basketball player
Lindsey Lamar, American football player
Lindsey Nelson (1919–1995), American sportscaster
Lindsey Butterfield, a character in the soap opera, Hollyoaks
Lindsey Farris, a character in Mission: Impossible III
Lindsey McDonald, a character on the TV show Angel
Lindsey Naegle, a minor character on the TV show The Simpsons
Dr. Lindsey Novak, a character on the sci-fi series Stargate SG-1
Lindsey Salmon, a character from The Lovely Bones
Lyndsay DePaul (born 1988), American swimmer
Lyndsay Glohe (born 1988), Australian football player
Lyndsay Hammond, Australian musician
Lyndsay Kahler (born 1974), American beauty pageant
Lyndsay McIntosh (born 1955), Scottish politician
Lyndsay Meyer (born 1973), American ski-mountaineer
Lyndsay Proctor, New Zealand rugby player
Lyndsay Wall (born 1985), American ice-hockey player
Linsay Felton (born 1984), American actor
Linsay Willier, Canadian model
Surname
Joseph Linsey (1899–1994), organized crime figure in Boston's underworld during Prohibition
Meghan Linsey (born 1985), American musician, singer-songwriter, and runner-up of NBC's The Voice season 8
Given names
Linsey Corbin (born 1981), American triathlete
Linsey Godfrey (born 1989), American actor
Linsey MacDonald (born 1964), former Scottish sprinter from Dunfermline, Fife
Linsey Dawn McKenzie (born 1978), English glamour model, pornographic actress, and minor celebrity
Other
Linsey-woolsey, coarse twill or plain-woven fabric woven with a linen warp and a woollen weft
John Linsey Rand House, Italianate house in Friendship, Indiana, USA
Lyndsey Marshal (born 1978), English actor
Lyndsey Patterson (born 1982), American soccer player
Lyndsey Pfaff (born 1978), Belgian television personality
Lyndsey Rodrigues (born 1981), Australian television personality
Martin Lyndsey, English 16th-century academic administrator
Lynsay Sands, Canadian author
Lynsay Ryan (born 1984), Canadian curler
Lynsey Askew (born 1986), English cricketer
Lynsey Addario (born 1973), American photojournalist
Lynsey Baxter (born 1959), English actor
Lynsey Bartilson (born 1983), American actor
Lynsey de Paul (born 1948), English singer-songwriter
Lynsey DuFour, American television soap opera writer
Lynsey Hipgrave (born 1979), English television and radio presenter formerly known as Lynsey Horn
Lynsey McCullough (born 1991), Irish tennis player
Lynsey Sharp (born 1990), Scottish athlete
Lynsey Nolan, character in the British soap opera Hollyoaks
